How does one secure a fully funded international scholarship? Is it purely about academic excellence, or does it require something more like strategy, research, and a clear sense of purpose?

For many Bangladeshi students, Türkiye Bursları represents a rare opportunity: a fully funded pathway to higher education abroad. Yet despite its popularity, the process, from preparation to placement, remains widely misunderstood.

To provide a complete, practical guide, we spoke with Afrin Anwar Boisakhi, a Türkiye Bursları scholar currently studying Information Systems Engineering. Her journey offers a step-by-step understanding of how the scholarship works in reality. So, keep reading to get the guidelines from someone who has already walked the path and reached the destination.

Background

Afrin was a student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, and she grew up in Wari, Dhaka. She describes herself as a consistently strong student since childhood. Initially, her parents’ dream was that she would pursue a career in law enforcement and become a police officer, but fate had engineering written for her.

“I was always a good student in school, at least according to my results. My parents wanted me to become a police officer, but now I am studying engineering,” she explained.

Like many high-achieving Bangladeshi students, her university plans followed a conventional path. BUET was her first choice, and an overseas government scholarship was her last option. Reflecting on that time now, she noted how unexpected the outcome was. “My plan A was BUET, plan B was USA, and plan C was government scholarships. And now here I am.”

The scholarship

When asked to describe Türkiye Bursları, not in the official definition, but to explain what it really is, Afrin described it through its impact on her life. “I don’t know the official definition, but Türkiye Bursları has given me a new life full of opportunities, completely free of cost,” she said.

In practical terms, the scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation, meals, health insurance, a monthly stipend, a one-year Turkish language programme, and round-trip airfare. Afrin confirmed that she did not need to pay for any of these components.

When asked about the financial side of the scholarship, she noted that the stipend is adjusted periodically to account for inflation in Türkiye. However, starting from education to meals, she does not need to pay for anything. She also confirmed there is no application fee at any stage of the process. So the students get to apply for it completely free.

Academic profile

Afrin’s academic results place her among the top-performing applicants. She achieved a GPA of 5.00 with A+ grades in both SSC and HSC examinations. “I had a GPA of 5 in both my SSC and HSC with an A+ in all the subjects,” she said.

Her approach to standardised testing, however, was relatively minimal. She took the SAT without preparation and received a decent score, and she prepared for approximately one week for IELTS and ended up achieving a score of 7.5.

Despite these results, she emphasised that numbers alone do not secure selection. According to her, a strong applicant combines academic performance with extracurricular involvement and a compelling personal narrative.

To give an idea of what an ideal Türkiye Bursları applicant looks like on paper in terms of academics and what numbers and achievements make a file stand out, she explained, “GPA 5 in board exams, a decent IELTS and SAT score, and lots of extra-curricular activities. Oh, and a motivational letter that speaks for you.”

More importantly, she believes the selection committee evaluates intent, that is, how applicants plan to use their education. “They look for someone who’s willing to use their skills and expertise for both their home country and Türkiye Bursları,” she said.

Extracurriculars

We all know how important extracurriculars are for getting fully funded and prestigious scholarships like Türkiye Bursları. Therefore, we dived a bit deep into extracurriculars with Afrin and tried to find out what a student should try to do in order to get the scholarship.

Outside the classroom, Afrin remained actively involved in a range of activities. She participated in cultural programmes, volunteering initiatives, and charity work, while also taking part in competitions at different levels.

“During my high school days, I was involved in a number of cultural, volunteering, and charity organisations. I also used to regularly participate in different competitions,” she said. Among her achievements, she highlighted receiving a Silver award in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition as a particularly meaningful milestone. “I’ve participated in many local, national, and international competitions. Something I’m proud of is getting Silver in the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition,” she added.

For students who feel they lack sufficient extracurriculars, Afrin rejects the idea that it is too late to improve. “There’s always time to have enough extracurricular activities. I would suggest using the resources they have, for example, the internet, to look for opportunities that align with them,” she said.

Preparing the motivation letter

We wanted to know a little bit about the motivation letter needed for Türkiye Bursları. Afrin mentioned everyone’s motivational letter should be unique and personal. However, it ideally contains your academic background, why you chose this major, your extracurricular activities, and what goals you want to achieve with this major. You should also mention how Türkiye will help you achieve your goals and how you will help Türkiye and your home country with the education you receive.

Afrin did not come across Türkiye Bursları by chance. She actively searched for scholarship opportunities and applied to multiple government programmes before this one.

“I looked at it for myself. I had also applied for other government scholarships before Türkiye Bursları and was nominated for all of them. At that time, I was constantly searching and researching for more scholarship opportunities,” she said.

Her experience highlights a key pattern among successful applicants, which is consistent research and multiple attempts, rather than reliance on a single opportunity.

Application process

Applying abroad is never easy. Students often get overwhelmed by the amount of documents they need to submit and deal with them alone. Being prepared for it beforehand makes the process much easier.

Afrin’s application included a wide range of supporting documents. She submitted five letters of recommendation: three from her high school teachers, one from an internship supervisor, and one from a volunteering organisation. “I submitted 3 LORs from my high school teachers, 1 from an internship, and 1 from a volunteering organisation,” she said.

There is also a common scenario of submitting on the last day. We wanted to know if top applicants also do this. Despite preparing these materials, Afrin admitted that she submitted her application at the last moment. “To be very honest, I submitted it on the last day,” she added. While common, this approach leaves little room for revision and increases the risk of errors during submission.

Selecting universities can also be a big hassle for students who apply, as they do not understand how to choose universities that would increase their acceptance chances and also fulfil their needs. In Afrin’s case, she researched Turkish universities extensively, as applicants are required to list up to 12 preferences. “I researched Turkish universities as I had to select 12. I selected the ones that I thought matched my profile,” she added.

The Türkiye Bursları selection process is lengthy. Afrin reported that it took approximately three months to receive her nomination result after submission, followed by another three months for the final decision. “It took around 3 months to hear about the nomination result and 3 more months for the final result,” she said. This extended timeline requires applicants to remain patient and manage uncertainty over several months.

Interview and assessment

There is an interview period and assessment in Türkiye Bursları, and you get nominated initially after evaluating the submitted application. Shortlisted candidates are notified via email and required to complete both a written test and an interview, each contributing equally to the final selection.

“For bachelor’s applicants, there is both a written test and an interview. Each carries 50% of the final selection score. They take a test on Mathematics and logic,” Afrin explained.

Afrin’s interview took place at the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka, where she faced a panel of Turkish people. During the conversation, she mentioned trying Turkish ice cream in Mirpur, which led to an unexpected moment of connection. “They were shocked to know that we have Turkish ice cream in Bangladesh and were curious to try as well,” she recalled.

She noted that most of the interview questions were based directly on her motivation letter, reinforcing its importance in the application.

We really wanted to know if you could get any hint of how you did in the interview. Despite preparation, Afrin left the interview uncertain about her performance. “I was completely unsure,” she said. So, if you get the invitation for an interview and you do not understand if it went well or not, do not worry too much. There are people who faced that before but still got in.

After the interview, Afrin waited another three months before receiving the final result. She described the moment as overwhelming, mixed with some family conditions. “The moment felt surreal. I almost cried and instantly decided that I would come here, even though my family did not fully agree with my decision,” she said.

Language requirement and academic adjustment

A defining feature of Türkiye Bursları is the mandatory Turkish language year. Every student studying under Türkiye Bursları has to learn Turkish in their first year as a must. Afrin completed the programme up to C1 level, including academic Turkish, and reflected positively on the experience. “I’ve completed C1 Turkish and academic Turkish. I really miss those language course days, wish I could go back to that time again,” she said.

The language programme is structured in stages, from A1 to C1. Failure does not result in losing the scholarship, but students must retake the course, sometimes at their own expense. “If you fail a course, you have to retake it, and you may have to pay for it,” she explained.

She also highlighted a key challenge: most students do not ultimately receive English language placements. “I think only 1% of students finally receive English, even though everyone applies for English courses,” she said. However, she mentioned it does not affect postgraduate studies negatively, but the main challenge becomes surviving undergraduate studies in a completely different language.

Placement and restrictions

University placement is determined by the scholarship authority based on the applicant’s preferences and profile. However, the final decision does not rest with the student. Afrin explained that the organisation assigns universities after reviewing applications. “YTB decides it,” she said.

Moreover, students do not have the option to transfer once placement is finalised. “There is no way to transfer,” she added. So, students need to be extremely careful while applying and selecting options.

In terms of employment, students are not allowed to work part-time without official permission, and doing so may affect their stipend. “We are not allowed to work. If you want to work, you have to get permission. But that would affect your stipend,” she said.

Academic quality and future opportunities

Afrin indicated that Turkish universities provide sufficient academic support, including research opportunities and internships. She also noted that many Türkiye Bursları graduates pursue further studies in more developed countries, using their scholarship experience to strengthen future applications. “They usually move to more developed countries for higher studies. If you already have one government scholarship, grades, and skills, it is easier to get more scholarships in the future,” she explained. She confirmed that universities provide the necessary academic support and recommendations for such pathways.

Afrin’s message to prospective applicants centres on persistence and open-mindedness. “Please do not give up. Türkiye Bursları was probably my option C, but it has given me more than I have ever dreamed of,” she said. She encouraged students to continue researching and applying, even when initial plans do not work out. She says to prospective applicants: “Keep researching and trying, you will find your destiny soon, too.”

To end the interview, we wanted to know if she could sit across from the version of her younger self who was nervously opening that application portal for the first time, what would she want her to know. This is what she said: “You are strong and much more than you believe.” To all the students applying now and in the future, this one line is enough to keep you going.